Means for supplying a plurality of spinning rings with fluid lubricant

ABSTRACT

Fluid lubricant supply means for a plurality of sintered metal spinning rings on a spinning frame in which each ring holder has a small pipe cast in position in the body of the holder with the ends of the pipe extending beyond the holder. The pipe ends of adjacent holders are connected by flexible tubular elements applied after the holders are in position on the ring rail. Some of the lubricant fed through the continuous conduit formed by the pipes and connecting tubular elements is diverted at each holder through a hole in the wall of the pipe and a related passage through the holder to the spinning ring of that holder.

United States Patent Wayson et al.

[451 June 13, 1972 [54] MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PLURALITY OF SPINNING RINGS WITH FLUID LUBRICANT [72] Inventors: Andrew J. Wayson, Needham; Richard T.

De Stefano, Everett, both of Mass.

[7 3] Assignee: Merriman, Inc., I-Iingham, Mass.

[22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 81,822

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 383,074 11/1932 GreatBritain ..184/7A 533,302 9/1931 Germany ..l84/7A Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Attorney-Robert S. Smith, David S. Urey, Alan C. Rose and Alfred B. Levine [5 7] ABSTRACT Fluid lubricant supply means for a plurality of sintered metal spinning rings on a spinning frame in which each ring holder has a small pipe cast in position in the body of the holder with the ends of the pipe extending beyond the holder. The pipe ends of adjacent holders are connected by flexible tubular elements applied after the holders are in position on the ring rail. Some of the lubricant fed through the continuous conduit formed by the pipes and connecting tubular elements is diverted at each holder'through a hole in the wall of the pipe and a related passage through the holder to the spinning ring of that holder.

1 1 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUNHIISIZ 3,869,219

SHEET 20F 2 gea MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PLURALITY OF SPINNING RINGS WITH FLUID LUBRICANT BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a simplified means for supplying a plurality of sintered metal spinning rings mounted in holders on a ring rail of spinning frame with a fluid lubricant. The lubricant supply will usually be in a container mounted on or adjacent the ring rail with a conduit running therefrom to all of the ring holders. Alternatively, the oil supply could be subdivided to be fed to smaller groups of holders instead of to all the holders in a continuous series. The conduit consists of an alternating series of pipes cast in the holders and tubular connecting elements between the holders. A portion of the lubricant is diverted at each holder to the ring of that holder by means of a generally horizontally extending passage running from a small hole in the side of the pipe through the body of the holder to the ring position.

The invention eliminates entirely the expensive piping, gaskets and screw threaded connections, which have heretofore been used in supplying a group of rings on a ring rail with a fluid lubricant from a common source of supply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. I is a plan view showing a plurality of spinning ring holders mounted in cantilever fashion on a ring rail showing the conduit extending from a lubricant reservoir at the left to a level sight at the right.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a portion of one of the rings shown in FIG. 1 and the rail on which it is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the pipe cast in the body of the holder and the tubular connecting elements mounted on the ends of the pipe.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the passage from the pipe to the ring.

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of a tubular connecting element.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section of the extended body portion of the holder illustrating a modified form of cast in pipe.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another form of ring holder mounted on a ring with the pipe cast in the body of the holder and the ends of the pipe connected to pipes of adjacent holders.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another form of ring holder incor porating the invention mounted in cantilever fashion on the ring rail and including additional means for connecting the outboard sides of the holders to improve the rigidity and alignment of the holders under some conditions of operation.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modification.

FIG. 12 is a modification of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 4, the invention is shown in relation to a group of holders 2 mounted in cantilever fashion on a ring rail 4. Each of the holders 2 is designed to receive and maintain in position thereon (see FIG. 4) a sintered metal spinning ring (horizontal or vertical type) of construction now in common use in the textile industry throughout the United States and many foreign countries. The sintered metal spinning ring is of a porous nature and when a suitable lubricant, generally oil, is supplied thereto, the oil, by capillary attraction, works its way through the ring to those surfaces that are engaged by the traveler that moves thereabout during the spinning or twisting operation.

Mounted at some position on the ring rail or on an adjacent support is an oil supply 6 in container 8 at a level above the holders 2 so that the oil may feed by gravity. Container 8 has its outlet 10 connected by a tubular element 12 to the end of a pipe 14 which pipe is cast in the body extension 16 of the holder 2. The other end of pipe 14 is connected by a similar tubular element 12 to the next pipe 14 of the next holder 2. These series of alternating connections of tubular elements 12 and pipes 14 continue to the end of the ring rail where the last tubular element 12 is connected with an oil level sight 18.

Each of the holder extensions 16 has a passage 20 which runs from a small hole in the side of pipe 14 to the spinning ring. Reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 shows the foregoing referred to construction in more detail. lln FIG. 2 the holder 2 is mounted on rail 4 by means of screws 22 which extend through suitable openings 24 in the holder extension 16 into rail 4. The pipe 14 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has been cast in its position in the extension 16 at the time the holder 2 was originally made.

Ring holders are customarily made of aluminum cast in previously prepared metal dies. As each holder is cast, the pipe 14 is suitably positioned in the mold in the area of the extension 16. When the molten aluminum is poured thereabout, the pipe 14 becomes permanently mounted therein. The pipe ends 26 and 28 extend a short distance beyond the side walls 30 and 32 of extension 16 so that the tubular elements 12 may be readily applied by hand after the holders have been mounted in position on rail 4 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

After completion of the casting of the ring 2 with the pipe 14 in place, the passage 20 is created by drilling a generally horizontal hole 34 from the vertical wall 36 through a portion of extension 16 and through the wall of pipe 14. Then, when a ring 38 (a horizontal type ring is illustrated, but a vertical type ring could be used) is mounted in the holder 2 as illustrated in FIG. 4, oil can flow from the interior of pipe 14 through the passage 34 to be conveyed about the ring by any of the well understood conventional means such as a wick 40 or a passage 41 to a covered circular channel 43. The type of ring carried by the holder has no bearing on the invention other than that the ring is positioned to receive the oil from passage 34. The oil conveyed to the ring moves by capillary attraction to those surfaces of the ring 38 which are engage-d by the traveler that moves constantly thereabout during the spinning operation.

The pipe 14 must necessarily be made of material having a higher melting point than that of the metal of which the holder 2 is cast. Ordinarily, the pipe 14 will be of steel, but it could be of brass or even of a different type of aluminum having a higher melting point than the aluminum of the holder.

In some instances, it has been found difficult to drill the hole 34 sufficiently accurately to insure penetration of pipe 14 at its side. This difficulty increases with the length of the passage 34. Therefore, a modified construction is suggested in FIG. 12 in which the pipe 14 instead of being straight is curved as shown by the dotted lines at 14a to bring the pipe at its mid position 44 closer to the holder wall 36 whereby the drilling of the shortened passage 34 into the holder and through the side of pipe 14a is facilitated. The fact that the pipe 14a is curved in the manner disclosed does not modify the concept of casting the oil pipe within the body of extension 16.

Another modification which eliminates the necessity of drilling through extension 16 and pipe 14 to form the passage 34 is shown in FIG. 6. Here the pipe 14 includes a lateral branch 14b. This T-shaped unit is positioned in the mold so that the free end of pipe 141: is located at the wall 36.

In FIG. 5 is shown a modification 12a of the connecting element 12 heretofore referred to. Here the intermediate portion 12a of the connecting element is substantially enlarged in cross section so as to act as an intermediate oil reservoir. With all of the enlarged bodies 12a filled with oil, it is apparent that a greater total supply of oil will be available when the oil container 8 is filled. Thus, the period of replenishing the oil in container 6 is extended with a corresponding reduction in the number of fillings of the container to be made by the operator in charge.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the holders 52 are shown in plan view mounted on a full width ring rail 54. The holders are secured in position in conventional manner by the screws 56.

Each holder is split as at 58, whereby the ring, now shown, may be placed within holder 52 and permanently secured by the tightening of screw 60. Each pipe 62 is cast in the extension 64 of holder 52 in the same manner that pipes 14 were cast in the extensions 16. The ends of pipes 62 of the adjacent holders 52 are connected by the tubular elements 66 whereby oil from a common source such as container 8 may flow to the conduit formed by the alternating pipes 62 and tubular elements 66 to the succession of holders 52 mounted on rail 54. In order to get the oil to the ring which will be mounted in the holder 52, a hole 68 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is drilled horizontally through the extension 64 and through the wall of pipe 62. Each ring when secured in position in its holder will engage tightly against wall 70 and the oil coming through passage 68 will be picked up by a wick and carried about the ring as illustrated and previously referred to in FIG. 4. The pipe 62 and tubular elements 66 are located at the front of ring rail 54 in a position which makes it easy for the operator to apply the element 66 to pipes 62 after the holders 52 have been secured in position on the ring rail 54, thereby to form a continuous conduit.

A further modification is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. Here the holders 72 are of the cantilever type similar to holders 2 shown in FIG. 1 and are mounted on ring rail 74 by the screws 76. The oil supply pipes 78 which are cast into extensions 80 of the holders 72 are at the outboard sides of the holders 72 as distinguished from the pipes 14 in FIG. 1 which are cast into the extensions at the inboard side of the holders 2. By having the pipes 78 cast into the holders in the position shown in FIG. 9, it may be easier in some cases for the operator to apply the tubular elements 82 to the ends of pipes 78 than would be the case if the pipes 78 were at the rear of the holders overlying ring rail 74. Suitable passages 84 similar to the previously referred to passages 20, 34 in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and 68 in FIGS. 7 and 8 are drilled laterally from wall 86 of holder 72 through the extension 80 and through the side wall of pipe 78 so that oil can be fed from the conduit to each ring mounted in each holder 72.

With the connecting tubular elements 82 out in front at the free ends of the holders 72, it has been found desirable to provide some additional support for the free ends of the holders which will help to minimize potential relative distortion of the holders and possible separation of the conduit should normal up and down movement of the ring rail 74 be interrupted by jamming of the ring rail on the vertical rods (not shown) on which the rail normally rides. To provide this additional support, a rigid strip of material, usually of metal, 88 is secured by bolts 90 to downwardly extending integral ears 92 which are part of the cast extension 80.

It will be noted in all of the forms shown and described that the vertical dimension of the tubular connecting elements 12, 66 and 82 are of a vertical dimension which does not exceed the vertical thickness of the extensions 16, 64 and 80. While the invention is in no way limited to particular dimensions of these parts, nevertheless it will be appreciated that the construction provides a continuous conduit from the oil supply to all of the ring holders that is relatively small, inconspicuous, inexpensive to make and easy to install. Holders may be changed at will by merely placing simple clamps on the two tubular elements at the ends of the pipe of the holder to be removed after which the operator may easily slide the ends of the clamped tubular elements off the pipe ends permitting immediate removal of the holder without having to drain the oil system.

A further modification is shown in FIG. 11 in which the pipes 100 east in the holder extensions 102 have their ends 104 turned outwardly away from the ring position in the holder. In the previous forms shown, all of the ends of the pipes 14, 62 and 78 have been straight and aligned with the ends of the pipes of the adjacent holders. However, having the ends 104 shaped as illustrated in FIG. 1 1, it may in some cases be easier to apply the tubular connecting element 106 to the pipe ends in the curved manner disclosed. The connecting element is usually a piece of flexible but strong plastic tubing which may assume any configuration required according to the position and direction of the ends of the pipes to which the tubing is connected.

The curved pipe 14a shown in FIG. 12 and the non-aligned ends 104 shown in FIG. 11 are illustrative of the variations the cast-in oil pipes may assume. It will be understood in the claims that in the absence of specific definition of the shape of the pipe, it may be in any configuration, both as to the portion within the cast extension and the ends exterior thereof, so long as the exposed pipe ends of one holder may be connected to the exposed pipe ends of the next adjacent holders by the flexible tubular connecting elements. In all cases, a suitable passage must be provided through the wall of the pipe and through the extension to deliver some of the oil at each holder to its spinning ring.

It is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Means for supplying fluid lubricant to a plurality of sintered metal spinning rings positioned in holders mounted on the ring rail of a spinning frame, said means comprising a source of fluid lubricant, a conduit extending from said source to a plurality of holders in series, said conduit comprising a succession of pipes and connecting tubular elements, each said pipe cast in position in a part of each said holder adjacent its ring with the ends of each said pipe extending from the sides of its said holder and each said pipe end being adjacent one end of the pipe case in and extending from the next adjacent holder, said tubular elements connecting the adjacent pipe ends of adjacent holders in lubricant tight relation, and a passage through the wall of each said pipe and holder extending from the interior of the pipe to the said ring.

2. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, said holders being mounted on said rail in cantilever fashion and said pipes running through the sides of said holders remote from said ring rail.

3. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, said holders being mounted on said rail in cantilever fashion and said pipes running through the sides of said holders that are over said rail.

4. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, said holders being mounted between the front and rear sides of said rail, said pipes being located in said holders so that the said tubular elements extend along the front side of said rail.

5. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1 said holders being mounted between the front and rear sides of said rail, said pipes being located in said holders so that the said tubular elements extend along the rear side of said rail.

6. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, at least some of said tubular elements having intermediate internal diameters substantially greater than the outside diameters of said pipes.

7. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, the outside diameter of said tubular elements being no greater than the vertical dimension of that part of the holder in which said pipe is cast.

8. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 2, and a continuous rigid strip of material extending along and removably secured to the sides of said holders remote from said ring rail.

9. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 3, and a continuous rigid strip of material extending along and removably secured to the sides of said holders remote from said ring rail.

10. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 9, said strip being below the level of said conduit.

11. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, the ends of each said pipe exterior of each said holder turned to extend away from said ring position and being in nonalignment with each other,said tubular elements when in connection with said pipe ends of adjacent holders assuming a curved configuration.

l l I l 

1. Means for supplying fluid lubricant to a plurality of sintered metal spinning rings positioned in holders mounted on the ring rail of a spinning frame, said means comprising a source of fluid lubricant, a conduit extending from said source to a plurality of holders in series, said conduit comprising a succession of pipes and connecting tubular elements, each said pipe cast in position in a part of each said holder adjacent its ring with the ends of each said pipe extending from the sides of its said holder and each said pipe end being adjacent one end of the pipe case in and extending from the next adjacent holder, said tubular elements connecting the adjacent pipe ends of adjacent holders in lubricant tight relation, and a passage through the wall of each said pipe and holder extending from the interior of the pipe to the said ring.
 2. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, said holders being mounted on said rail in cantilever fashion and said pipes running through the sides of said holders remote from said ring rail.
 3. MeanS for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, said holders being mounted on said rail in cantilever fashion and said pipes running through the sides of said holders that are over said rail.
 4. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, said holders being mounted between the front and rear sides of said rail, said pipes being located in said holders so that the said tubular elements extend along the front side of said rail.
 5. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, said holders being mounted between the front and rear sides of said rail, said pipes being located in said holders so that the said tubular elements extend along the rear side of said rail.
 6. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, at least some of said tubular elements having intermediate internal diameters substantially greater than the outside diameters of said pipes.
 7. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, the outside diameter of said tubular elements being no greater than the vertical dimension of that part of the holder in which said pipe is cast.
 8. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 2, and a continuous rigid strip of material extending along and removably secured to the sides of said holders remote from said ring rail.
 9. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 3, and a continuous rigid strip of material extending along and removably secured to the sides of said holders remote from said ring rail.
 10. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 9, said strip being below the level of said conduit.
 11. Means for supplying fluid lubricant as set forth in claim 1, the ends of each said pipe exterior of each said holder turned to extend away from said ring position and being in nonalignment with each other,said tubular elements when in connection with said pipe ends of adjacent holders assuming a curved configuration. 